On 22 July 2026, YONECO facilitated a community dialogue session with traditional leaders, parents, children and community child protection structures to discuss the underlying causes of child marriage and identify solutions in the area of Village Head Chipeta, Mangochi.
Participants highlighted poverty as a major driver of early marriage, with some parents forcing their daughters into marriage in exchange for financial or material support. Traditional leaders also expressed concern that child marriage is among the key factors that contribute to negative education outcomes for girls in the area.
The girls who participated in the session listed peer pressure, parental neglect and the influence of night discos as additional factors that increase their vulnerability to early pregnancy and child marriage. Participants also noted that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the failure of some parents to provide adequate care and support further expose girls to exploitation.
Despite these challenges, the girls reaffirmed their commitment to remaining in school and afformed to encourage their peers to pursue education which they described as key to a brighter future.
“We are appealing to traditional leaders to continue mobilizing communities to challenge harmful cultural norms that perpetuate child marriage” explained Agnes Mposa, one of the girls who attended the session.
On their part, traditional leaders pledged to strengthen collaboration with parenting circles and other community structures to raise awareness on the importance of educating girls and protecting children from early marriage.
“With continued community action, more girls will complete their education and grow into future leaders, including the area’s first female Member of Parliament” explained Village Head Chipeta.
